MP has a jumbo problem: Six killed in elephant attacks this yr

Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh’s elephant-human conflict claimed two more lives on Monday when an elderly couple was trampled to death in Sidhi district, taking the state’s elephant attack toll to six this year.

The incident occurred around 2 am in Chingi village under Gajra gram panchayat, where wild elephants surrounded and damaged a house before attacking the occupants. Forest officials suspect a female elephant from a herd of four that recently entered the area from neighbouring Chhattisgarh was involved in the attack. The deceased were identified as Bhaiyalal Yadav, 60, and his wife Tiliya Yadav, 58.

The deaths triggered protests by villagers, who initially refused to allow removal of the bodies and alleged negligence by forest officials. Residents claimed the elephants had been roaming in the area since Sunday afternoon and that the couple had approached a nearby forest outpost seeking shelter but were allegedly turned away.

Following the protests, district authorities reached the spot and initiated relief measures. Sidhi collector Vikas Mishra said compensation of Rs 8 lakh had been provided for each deceased and a probe ordered into the allegations against forest department personnel.

“Villagers were pacified and provided relief of Rs 8 lakh against each deceased. A probe has also been ordered into the allegations. This was the only family still living in the forest village despite having been relocated and compensated. We have called a review meeting to ensure such incidents do not recur,” Mishra told TOI.

Officials said the settlement had already been relocated under rehabilitation measures, and the family had received compensation benefits, but continued to reside in the forest area.

The latest deaths have renewed concerns over the growing elephant presence in eastern Madhya Pradesh. Earlier this year, four people were killed in separate elephant attacks in the Shahdol-Anuppur forest belt, including a farmer in Shahdol last month. Officials have been tracking elephant movements from Chhattisgarh and issuing alerts to residents in affected areas.

GFX

Elephant trampling deaths in 2026

Anuppur — 3

Shahdol — 1

Sidhi — 2

Total — 6